If I remember rightly, despite having an unfortunate face and managing to rise to the top of Hollywood regardless, he's also a former firefighter
Discussion
I think he rose to the top because of the face man. If you are in the middle of the 'wierd face / nice face ' bell curve , I dont' think you have much of a chance, but if you are out there on edges, then you might have a chance.
I put him in the same character as like , Willem Dafoe, wierd face.
It helps that they're also dope ass actors. Amazing at their craft. Maybe more a matter of consistent proof of work beating out PoS?
Talent and hardwork over beauty and luck.
It's funny, when people say ' they are an amazing actor' or ' a master actor' , I never really know how to verify it because I don't actually know what makes a good actor.
I know what movies I like, and I know who I liked in them, but I don't know if they were 'acting well' if you know what I mean, like what is the meter stick for that, is it playing a role that is just out there and totally nuts, is it playing a character that makes you emotional or something like that , what is the meter stick?
IMHO there's basically 2 types of actor that people like: the kind where they play the same character in every film (Robert DeNiro) and the kind where you can almost forget it's the same actor in different films (Ed Norton)
Personally, I think the second is more impressive
When I no longer feel like I'm watching Steve Buscemi. He" becomes" the character.
Also Benedict Cumberbatch - odd faces, but top actors. It's always made me wonder, that has.